Statement from Fiona Pimm

Ko ngā maunga, ko ngā awa, ko ngā wāhi tapu o te motu nei, tēnā koutou. Ka tahuri au ki ngā mate, kua hokia ki te wā kāinga, haere atu rā. Ko tātou ngā hunga ora, e tū ana i raro i te manaakitanga o te kaiwhakaora, tēnā tātou.

Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa

I am a descendant of Tarawhata. I grew up amongst my many cousins at Arowhenua Pā. Our upbringing was enriched by the guidance and discipline of our aunties and uncles, and we learned tikanga and kawe accompanying our Taua & Poua around the motu. We grew up in each other’s whare or on the riverbanks sharing stories and most importantly kai! We were never financially wealthy, but we always ate well and today, we celebrate enduring whānau bonds. It was within this whānau context I absorbed the values that continue to shape my life; pono, māia, pukumahi and kaitiakitanga.

It is these treasured memories that fuel my passion to see all our Ngāi Tahu whānau achieving their dreams.

For 23 years I have been serving as a director on many different boards and as Chairperson on 6 of them.  My approach is to focus on dynamic delivery, creating value and monitoring performance across financial, risk and delivery domains. I am unafraid to pose the challenging questions and to debate key issues as they arise. My leadership style is adaptable, tailored to the situation at hand. My greatest sense of fulfilment comes from nurturing and developing emerging leaders.

I am excited about the potential of this opportunity to leverage my skills for the benefit of our Ngāi Tahu whānau. TRoNT is a complex entity, and it is imperative that the Kaiwhakahaere has strong leadership skills and a wealth of experience to guide a large Board of Directors. The role of the Kaiwhakahaere demands the promotion of fair and transparent governance that gets the best from each and every Director seated at the table.

I firmly believe the strategic direction for TRoNT must be driven by whānau aspirations. My vision is to see TRoNT re-establishing a strong connection with whānau through marae-based board hui, providing forums for whānau to share their hopes, ambitions and concerns.

If I am entrusted with this responsibility, I wholeheartedly commit to leading TRoNT to the realization of whānau aspirations.

E hara taku toa i te toa takitahi, he toa takitini